Painter: Texas A&M has that midmajor-like edge

Painter meant that as a compliment – with players competing with passion and resolve – to have an edge to them.

It goes back to their days of coaching in the Missouri Valley Conference, Painter said, when he was at Southern Illinois and Turgeon coached Wichita State.

What you want as a mid-major coach, Painter said, is for your players to perform with an edge, as if they have a chip on their shoulder.

“I think Mark has been able to do that at Texas A&M,” Painter said Saturday during interviews regarding their Sunday matchup in a second-round NCAA Tournament game.

“And it’s something we have tried to do at Purdue – to be able to get high-level players, but also get guys that have an edge to them that they are going to go out there and battle and compete, just like you’re at a mid-major school.”